BY SONAM MIRPURILOS ANGELES, CA - Life is filled with many desires and ambitions. Habitually around this time of the year most people make resolutions they hope to achieve in the coming year. ​The objective is usually to do better, become better, stop a bad habit, the list varies. However, with every tradition comes varied opinions because not...

everyone feels the same way. An entirely distinctive and uncommon approach to the concept at hand are some individuals who do not believe in making or completing New Year’s resolutions. “I do not make resolutions because I believe that whenever you want to make a change in your life you will do so regardless of the date on a calendar,” said Priyadarshini G. Roy. As an actor, singer, dancer, model, and pageant Queen, Roy credits her professions as to why she has such a unique perspective on the matter. She also included that as an individual who has an assortment of occupations it is necessary for her to keep recreating herself to be the best she can be and to stand out from the crowd.“I’ve learned that every year, every month, every week, every day, and each and every moment in your life can be a brand-new start if you adjust your mindset,” said Roy. An individual should be able to make a change in their lives whenever they choose to do so. It is more important to seize the moment rather than wait for the start of a new year to make a change. Similar to Roy, there are some people who choose not to make New Year’s resolutions for various reasons.“I don’t really make resolutions, but do make lists of things I need to accomplish in the upcoming year,” said Smita Vasant. Making lists with a short and quick completion time rather than making resolutions that require a longer period of time to accomplish might be a new and different way to approach the idea. “One of the things on my list is to renovate my store and fix things; get my filing done; and yes… still work on that book,” said Vasant as some of the items on her list of things to do in 2017. Taking a hundred and eighty degree spin on the matter are the more common people who tend to make resolutions at the start of the year and hope to accomplish them by the end of the year.“My New Year’s resolutions would be to get more involved in servicing the various needs of the community. I would also love to improve spiritually and religiously to come closer to God,” said Tarun Bhardwaj, as his resolutions for 2017. Not only does Bhardwaj make resolutions every year for the year to come, he additionally carries over goals from the previous year(s) which he was not able to successfully achieve. For example, one of Bhardwaj’s resolutions which was carried over from the past few years now has been to drop 20 pounds. “They are posted on the refrigerator. Every day we are reminded of these resolutions and this helps to continue working towards accomplishing the goals that were set in the previous year,” said Bhardwaj.Keeping in mind and seeing the set resolutions every day might be a helpful and interesting method to ensure that the goals are met. Bhardwaj has been making resolutions for over 20 years and has a 50 to 60 percent success rate.Similar to Bhardwaj, Dr. Nitin Shah has been making New Year’s resolutions on and off for nearly half a century.“Firstly, more humanitarian services by offering help to anyone and everyone. Secondly, find an Outpatient Surgery Center who is willing to perform surgeries for a fee 4-5 days per week and one day per week will perform surgeries for free for needy people!,” said Dr. Shah as his list of resolutions for the coming year.Previously over the years some of Dr. Shah’s resolutions have been ones that are not accomplishable in one year. For example, to find a life partner is not a goal that can be attained within a set time limit. It takes time to find the right person and make it work. “I have been single and looking until 2011 when I found Kinna Gandhi whom I married in 2013,” said Dr. Shah about finally accomplishing one of his pending resolutions. Likewise to Bhardwaj and Dr. Shah, Ami Patel as well has been making resolutions for about ten years now and continues to do so for the coming year. “I am going to keep working out and traveling; taking up photography/taking more pictures. In addition, I want to do better at keeping up with friends and family.” said Patel as her resolutions for 2017.It appears that when it comes to making New Year’s resolutions it is not necessary that they need to be completed in the same year they were made. The goal makers can also decide how long they will need or want to take to accomplish the goal.On the other hand there are individuals who prefer to make the lifelong kind of resolutions rather than short-term ones. “I do not make any regimented resolutions for New Years as I know I will not keep them,” said Gita Khatkar, who has been making resolutions since she has heard of the concept.Khatkar has continuously maintained one resolution in her life and will always continue to do so.“I have always been able to make and keep it and it can be stated as: I will always have unwavering faith in the goodness of other people and the value that it adds to my life as an individual,” said Khatkar. Thinking like mindedly to Khatkar, Mihir Gandhi as well has made resolutions that are not time bound and could easily continue for the rest of his life. Gandhi’s twist on the concept however is an interesting one. He thinks that resolutions are not meant to be limited by rules or regulations, they should be custom made to the individual. “I believe more in positive affirmations and I think resolutions do not have to be made only at the beginning of the year,” said Gandhi. Additionally as his resolution for the coming year Gandhi strives to better himself and thinks that his form of motivation should not only be to better himself but to do so for his family as well. “To work on a plan with a personal trainer and build a routine to improve my physical health! Both my kids are doctors and big into physical fitness and healthy eating habits, so I have to do it for myself and for them!,” said Gandhi. Irrespective of the opinion of New Year’s resolutions, the main idea is to achieve the desired objective. Goals are made in the hopes that they will at some point be achieved. Whether it takes a day, a week, a month, or even a year the amount of time is insignificant to the feeling of the setting and achieving a desired aim. Whether it was made at any random point in the year or towards the end of the year for the following year as long as the determination is there to fulfill the resolution. Never give up!